ITV will show the Christmas Eve service from Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. Stars from Coronation Street and the singer Russell Watson will join the choir and a congregation of thousands for a wonderful service.

But DON'T come, because it has already been recorded!

But do watch - or listen to the service on Radio 4 which will be coming live from the Metropolitan Cathedral. Liverpool will be at the heart of the nation's Christmas celebrations.

The Angels sang to the shepherds Peace On Earth. We need that song more than ever.

Christmas can be a sad time. You think of past Christmases and the people you shared these with who are no longer around.

It can be a time when the past catches up with you. You wish you could turn the clock back and put right things that have gone wrong and robbed you of inner peace.

But Christmas is the time when God says 'Enough of the past. Live for the present in my love and forgiveness'.

The coming of Jesus on to the earth is God's way of showing us his love and offering us forgiveness. Opening up to this gift is our way of finding true peace.

You'll hear this carol many times. Try praying it as well as singing it.

O Holy Child of Bethlehem Descend to us we pray Cast out our sin and enter in Be born in us today

When you open your heart to His spirit and He comes to live in you, your life will start changing. God works from the insideout.

We all know the world's in a mess. God wants the earth to change and to become like heaven. That starts to happen when we open our lives to the Spirit of Christ.

He is the greatestChristmas gift of all.Together with allChristians on Merseyside, I wish you a truly peacefulChristmas.

The Most Reverend Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool>

OUR celebration of Midnight Mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ The King this year is being broadcast live by BBC Radio 4.

This means a change to our usual timetable as the broadcast - for various technical reasons - must begin at 11.15pm so as to end before 12.30am. Anyone wishing to be in the congregation must be in the Cathedral by 10.50pm.

Some may feel inconvenienced by this change but this is far outweighed by the opportunity for those in the Cathedral to share with those at home, in hospital, or in prison; the housebound and those who are alone.

Our celebration has been carefully prepared to bring joy to all those present and, through them, to reach out to so many others as well: always keeping in mind what it may be like for them in their loneliness and pain and fear on a night when so many will be caught up in noisy and exuberant parties, surrounded by so many.

There is a new altar frontal at the Cathedral for the Christmas season - designed by the artistic director, Sister Anthony and her helpers - conveying the message of this and every Christmas.

It echoes the words of the angel to the shepherds 'Do not be afraid' and 'a Saviour is born'. It brings the good news that God is here.

We pick the darkest time of the night to celebrate the coming of the light - the one who brings joy and peace, the one who can transform darkness into light, war into peace.

The silence of the night brings news of great joy, proclaimed first not to pillars of society but to humble shepherds associated more with stealing than saving in their culture: The birth of a Saviour for everyone without exception.

We are people who celebrate in the middle of the night because we know Him whose light no darkness can overcome.

He can break through all our fear and foreboding and bring light but that light is a child in a manger, a candle's gentle light.

So as homes, shops and streets are filled with light we may seize the opportunity to remember Him who is the light of the world; a light for all to see.

We are assured of God's affection for us and our selfish, hardened hearts is renewed. The friendship we reach out for in this season is worthy of the feast. We need to be enriched by each other's faith and be challenged by each other's love.

It is a wonderful time to sing songs of praise, to carol God's praise, to make our own the song of the angels: Sheer glory to God and peace and harmony among us on earth. Our wish for you all at this time of the year is for joy and peace.